Innovation for women’s empowerment and gender equality

Innovation and women’s empowerment are rarely discussed in the same context but each has essential value for human progress. This research is the first scholarly assessment of its kind to understand how innovations have improved women’s well-being, empowered women and advanced gender equality. We examine eight catalytic innovations in three domains that intersect areas with the greatest need and most creative entry points for realizing women’s empowerment: (1) technology use (2) social norm change and (3) economic resilience. Through this analysis, we identify seven core levers essential for innovation to catalyze meaningful change for women in developing countries.